Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-02-19
AN SCENE.
A Struggle for Life in the Breakers at
the Cliff

A Struggle for Life in the Breakers ut
the Cliff
Yesterday afternoon a thoroughly excit-
lug scene was witnessed in the vicinity OF
the Cliff House. A gentleman who was an
onlooker of the whole affair thus graphic
ally describes it:
"AbOut 8 o'clock in the afternoon, when
the beach was crowded with people and the
balconies of the Cliff House, as we'll as the
road and promontories, were thickly stud
ded with visitors, the general attention was
attracted to two men in q small Withall
boat a short distance from the Seal rocks,
They had q pair of oars and were evidently
trying to get out OF the way of the eddies,
which have such fatal power. For some
time they struggled manf1lly with the oars
and then set q small sail, but the current
was too strong, and inch by inch they were
drawn closer to the rocks. During about
twenty minutes the men did their utmost
to keep their small craft ahead on the cur-
rent suddenly to the horror of the
watchers who had collected now in large
numbers, the boat was whirled around and
a huge wave, striking it broadside on, the
men were both thrown into the water, the
little craft turning bottom up. Then came
q period of intense excitement. Each man
NA0hS w AVW OOA y ouO "1Vu LILO
feet, but the waves which had carried their
boat in. would not do the like for them.
The waves rolled high. and every now and
then both of the men disappeared from
view beneath them, whilst the crowds of
anxious spectators gave utterancs to half
suppressed cries."
"Time and again the men made for the
boat, and once succeeded in reaching it,
only to be washed off at once. Then they
redoubled their efforts, and the larger of
the two men. whom it was afterwards
found vas called Burkett, succeeded at last
in getting his feet On terra frma. Immed-
lately, however he was thrown to the
ground by q heavy wave, and was appear
employe OF Keane Brothers, rushed into the
water to the mans aid, and amid cheers
which echoed among the rocks. and showed
the tension under which the crowd suffered,
he was able to raise the exhausted Swim
mer. He, however, was unable to support
the great weight Of the helpless man, and
fell with him. Mr.. Stanton, brother of tho
Coroner, and another gentleman went to
the rescue. and much to the relief OF all.
rescuers and rescued came safely to shore"
The second man, q small, wiry long
shoreman named Kearney, managed to
reach the beach unaided. Burkett a
w CuO SIAA AAOuoCs duO tucrV aCVeuQ.
ed to by DR.. Regensburger, who soon res
sured the anxious onlookers that the man
a only suffering from exhaustion, and
would soon come round. He had received
a cut on the side OF the shoulder, and had
to be stripped and thoroughly rubbed
to bring circulation, when he was put to
bed"
A telephone message from the Point Lo-
hos station was received at the Mer-
chants Exchange with regard to the up
setting OF the boat. The substance of the
message was that two men. who evidently
did not know how to handle a boat came
down the harbor in the morning. They
were watched from the signal station and
observed to be unable to control the frail
Whitehall in the heavy surf. Seeing their
peril. the lfe-saving men attempted to get
out their boat, but the small craft had
capsized, end tho men rescued as described
before the li~ie-saviug crew could launch tho
big sursboas.